The Promise (Thunder Point #5)(50)

“A lot of doctors follow the money,” she said.

“Good for them,” he said. “A lot of doctors are only good at doctoring and get in financial trouble and file bankruptcy. If a big wind comes and blows away all our material wealth, I want to be worth something.”

“Character,” she said.

“Okay,” he said, kissing her neck again. “You’re intoxicating. You’re delicious. What if you’re addictive?”

“No,” she said. “I’m not.”

“You turn me on like crazy. And really, I can’t get enough. If you could read my mind, you’d hear the most embarrassing things....”

“Tell me,” she begged.

“I wanted to be here, like this, next to you, inside you, closer to you than possible, closer than this. Part of you, you part of me, driving each other to the most pleasure there is for a man and woman. I already want you again. And again. You’re electrifying. Hmm, I don’t think this is human, what you make me feel.”

She wiggled her butt against him. “I can tell....”

He slipped a hand over her hip, across her flat stomach and down. He separated her legs, lifting the top one, and deftly pressed against her soft center. “What do you think of this idea?”

“I think... Ohhh... I think, yes....”

He entered her from behind, slick and easy. With his lips on her neck and his hand making her so happy, he moved against her, within her. The angle seemed to stimulate her in a different place, and it was heavenly.

“Good?” he asked.

“Good,” she said.

“I love it when you come,” he whispered. “It’s powerful.” And he stroked harder, pumped his hips, driving deeper. “You’re ready,” he whispered.

“Oh, God,” she whispered back, pushing against him, loving his thrusts, loving his fingers. He rocked into her for a long time, murmuring to her that she was amazing, that he’d never have enough of her.

And he brought her all the way, leaving her trembling with satisfaction.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him, neither of them speaking for a long time, just melting into each other.

“I think this is my favorite part,” Peyton finally said, her voice soft. “Post-coital bliss, no rolling away for sleep.”

“I can sleep like this. I could every night of my life,” he said.

Another long moment of silence passed. “What’s going to happen to us, Scott?”

He kissed her neck. “All the best things, I think.”

Eleven

August changed things all over Thunder Point, and most definitely in the clinic. Scott spent a little more time than usual in town, cutting back his on-call schedule somewhat because of the flood of school and sports physicals that were required. Peyton handled as many of the physicals as she could manage because Scott had to keep his clinic hours in Bandon where they had a busier month than usual for the same reason.

And yet, the month was more fun. It began with a big party on the beach as Cooper and Sarah prepared to send Landon off to the University of Oregon where the Ducks football training camp was starting. Of course, Peyton was invited. After a little more than a month as a resident of this little town, people treated her like an old friend. But she was a bit unnerved when Cooper dropped an arm around her shoulders and said, “So. You and Scott? That’s awesome. He’s a good guy.” And not long after that, Mac gave her a little shoulder-squeeze and said, “The doc’s a great guy, Peyton. You’re in good hands.”

When Scott brought her a beer, she challenged him. “Have you been bragging around town that you finally got in my pants?”

“Of course not,” he said, taken aback.

“Then it must be the way you look at me! So, stop it!”

He just grinned and said, “Maybe it’s the way you look at me, Peyton. Every time I get a free pass and show up at your house, you’re all over me like a starving animal.” He touched her nose with a finger. “I am not complaining about that, by the way. I’m just as hungry for you. Every minute.” And then he went off to bond with the men over beer, sports stories and off-color jokes.

And Peyton thought, I probably do look at him that way. She found him wonderful in every way, and he was an adventure in bed. Not only was he handsome, when he touched her it made her wild for more, made her wanton and eager. He was lusty and powerful, yet he could also handle her as if she might be as fragile as a newborn. She wanted him all the time. She couldn’t remember ever wanting a man this way. She realized it had to be written all over her face.

She also loved to watch him with people. He had a great sense of humor and had compassion for absolutely everyone he came into contact with in the clinic and around the town. He was the most skilled listener, whether it was a complaining old lady or feisty sixth grader. He somehow conveyed with his eyes and by his touch, You can always trust me. I’ll always tell you the truth.

But she was nervous about these feelings, and for good reason. She’d been in a very similar position before, thinking herself to be in love with the doctor she’d worked with. She’d thought he was everything she’d ever wanted, then she came awake one day and realized she’d been kidding herself. Ted hadn’t been the man she thought he was at all.

What could Scott need her for? Love, for one thing—that was obvious. He’d love her every day if she didn’t hold him off a little. Did he need a dirt-cheap PA to help him get his clinic functional and successful? He did need a babysitter—desperately! Gabriella would be leaving soon. It didn’t help that she wanted to be needed for these things. But what if it wasn’t as good as it seemed? What if it fell apart? It would break her heart to pieces because her instincts said she’d found the man she’d been waiting for all her life.